Just after midnight oficers took manager Kazuya Komine, 33, and one other suspect into custody for allegedly allowing an 18-year-old male to gamble on slot machines disguised as vending machines — a violation of the Law Regulating Adult Entertainment Businesses regarding unauthorized operations.

The suspects considered their slots as vending machines, and therefore not in violation of the law. “Kin Suro uses a card embossed with gold for use in vending machines. This is not gambling,” said Komine, in denying the allegations.

According to police, the bust is the first of this type ever recorded in Hyogo Prefecture.